Tourism and hospitality support and guidance 

For the most up to date information and support relevant to tourism businesses, visit the Find Business Support website.

The site includes information on: preparing to reopen tourism businesses, applying for grants to help with the impact of COVID-19; social distancing – what this mean for your business; business rates (non-domestic rates) changes and extra rates relief; the Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme; the job Retention support and deferring VAT and Income Tax payments, and business closures. 

We’ve set out some of the key funding schemes available below, but please ensure you explore the Find Business Support website to see the full range of support available that you could be eligible for and guidance on opening up safely.

• Updated 30 March: NatureScot Better Places Green Recovery Fund - Round 2 helps communities and destinations develop visitor management plans for nature ‘hotspots’ across Scotland. Following the success of Round 1 in 2020, Round 2 is now open for applications to fund: 
  
  Visitor management operational services: Funding for new and additional seasonal ranger and visitor management posts. The funding of staff posts is for the 2021 season only and will extend as a maximum to the end of October 2021.
  
  Visitor infrastructure: Funding for projects that can be delivered quickly and help address visitor pressures at busy hot spot locations, including temporary or permanent infrastructure. Applicants can apply for up to a maximum of £75K.
  
  The closing date for fast delivery project applications is midnight on Friday 9 April 2021 and midnight on Friday 14 May 2021 for all other applications.
  
  
• 24 March: £25 million for tourism recovery has been announced by the Scottish Government. Holiday vouchers, discounts for days out and a marketing fund are included in a new £25 million tourism recovery programme. The programme, which has been developed by the Scottish Tourism Emergency Response Group (STERG) in partnership with businesses, will support the Scottish Tourism Recovery Taskforce objectives. 
  
  Further details on the allocation of funds will be set out in due course.
  
  
• Updated 04 March: Temporary reduced rate of VAT for hospitality and hotel accommodation and attractions This fund is for VAT-registered businesses dealing in hospitality, hotel and holiday accommodation and attractions. Information about government legislating to extend the temporary reduced rate of VAT has been added. 
• 16 February: Business Rates Relief The Scottish Government has introduced extra rates relief discounts to help owners of non-domestic properties, including businesses, deal with the impact of coronavirus. The rates relief is available to non-domestic properties from 1 April 2020 to 31 March 2021. Retail, hospitality, leisure and aviation businesses will have their relief extended for at least an additional three months.
• 11 February: Large Self-Catering Grant This fund is for larger self-catering properties (accommodating 7 or more people) in Scotland that have been impacted by the single household restrictions during the COVID-19 pandemic. Local authorities will contact eligible businesses, there is no need to apply.
• 11 February: Exclusive Use Grant This fund provides financial support for exclusive use properties in Scotland that have been impacted by the single household restrictions during the COVID-19 pandemic. Local authorities will contact eligible businesses, there is no need to apply.
• 11 February: Support for Bed and Breakfasts Paying Council Tax Grant This fund will provide bed and breakfasts (B&Bs) adversely affected by the COVID-19 restrictions with financial support. B&Bs in Scotland that do not pay non-domestic rates, but do pay council tax are eligible. Local authorities will contact eligible businesses, there is no need to apply.

• 11 February: Large Self-Catering Grant This fund is for larger self-catering properties (accommodating 7 or more people) in Scotland that have been impacted by the single household restrictions during the COVID-19 pandemic. Local authorities will contact eligible businesses, there is no need to apply.

• 11 February: Exclusive Use Grant This fund provides financial support for exclusive use properties in Scotland that have been impacted by the single household restrictions during the COVID-19 pandemic. Local authorities will contact eligible businesses, there is no need to apply.
• 11 February: Support for Bed and Breakfasts Paying Council Tax Grant This fund will provide bed and breakfasts (B&Bs) adversely affected by the COVID-19 restrictions with financial support. B&Bs in Scotland that do not pay non-domestic rates, but do pay council tax are eligible. Local authorities will contact eligible businesses, there is no need to apply.
• 27 January: Support for Travel Agents The Scottish Government recognises the specific challenges faced by this sector and one-off grants will be given through local authorities to eligible businesses. This fund will be administered through local authorities (your local council) and will provide one-off grants of up to £25,000 to eligible businesses. The level of grant awarded will depend on the rateable value of the premises from which you operate.
• Updated 20 January: COVID-19 guidance for the tourism and hospitality sector has been updated Guidance now updated (20 January) to reflect new restrictions announced on 13 January. A new section on takeaways was added - From 16 January 2021 in Level 4 lockdown areas, businesses primarily concerned with the service of food and drink takeaways can only offer the service on a no-indoor entry basis.
• Updated 18 December: Bounce Back Loan Scheme  helps small and medium-sized businesses to borrow between £2,000 and up to 25% of their turnover. The maximum loan available is £50,000. The government guarantees 100% of the loan and there won’t be any fees or interest to pay for the first 12 months. After 12 months the interest rate will be 2.5% a year. The scheme is open to applications until 31 March 2021.
• Published 05 December: Campervan and motorhome waste disposal guidance (PDF) has been jointly produced by Highland Council, SEPS and Scottish Water to assist communities, businesses and other organisations who are seeking to respond to the increased infrastructure challenges around responsible disposal of waste water, some of it chemically treated, from campervans’ onboard toilets and drains.
• Updated 05 December: Traveltech for Scotland is a new organisation launched on 18 August to help Scotland’s beleaguered tourism sector make a sustained recovery driven by technological innovation. It will build a support network for travel technology pioneers whose ingenuity could help turn the sector around following the devastating impacts of Covid-19. The The Scottish Tourism Toolkit has now been turned into an online directory in collaboration with Traveltech for Scotland and went live 04 December. You can also follow the conversation on twitter using #ScottishTourismToolkit 
• 23 October: Proposals for tourism recovery The Scottish Tourism Recovery Taskforce has published its recommendations for supporting the sector’s recovery from COVID-19. The taskforce was charged with looking at what priority rescue measures both the Scottish and UK governments can take to bolster recovery. The group’s recommendations, which will now be carefully considered by the Scottish Government.
• 10 July: Technology solutions for visitor attractions and experiences in a post-COVID-19 Scotland - as part of a project initiated by the Destination Leaders Programme, a small group of experienced tourism professionals have spent the last month looking at how different technologies can help visitor attractions and experiences in Scotland adapt and diversify in a post-COVID-19 world. The outcome of this research is an interactive toolkit, available from VisitScotland's website, to give attractions and experiences inspiration and ideas, as well as recommendations and solutions.
  

Please also look at our main financial support page for our most up to date list of all UK and Scottish Government support packages. 

Closed funds

• Hotel Support Programme closed to expressions of interest on 09 September. The core purpose of the Hotel Support Programme is to protect sustainable employment in the medium term within larger hotels in Scotland. It is highly targeted and can be used alongside other COVID-19 support schemes. You can view those awarded support under this programme on the Scottish Enterprise website. 
• 29 July: £1m Self Catering support fund has now closed. 
• Fund closed to new applicants 10 July: The Bed and Breakfast Hardship Fund is being administered through local authorities. If you have any queries about this fund or your application, please contact your local authority directly. 
• Pivotal Enterprise Resilience Fund - This fund has now closed.
• Creative, Tourism and Hospitality Enterprises Hardship Fund - This fund has now closed. 

Rebuilding Scotland's tourism industry together

The COVID-19 National Action Plan has been published and continues to be updated as we progress through the different phases of easing out of lockdown. 

The recovery of the crucial £11 billion tourism industry requires a multi-agency approach, working with the tourism industry to help those affected today, tomorrow and in the future.

The Scottish Tourism Emergency Response Group (STERG) has created a single, joined-up, phased plan to not just combat the current issues but also look at how the industry could effectively recover once the lockdown is eased.

The STERG’s immediate priorities are to support businesses by providing information and reassurance; safeguarding employment; and helping them access financial assistance to maintain cashflow and secure a viable future.

Download the action plan from VisitScotland's website

The STERG consists of COSLA, HIE, Skills Development Scotland, the Scottish Government, Scottish Enterprise, South of Scotland Enterprise, the Scottish Tourism Alliance, and chaired by VisitScotland.